@mrmichaelphillips.bsky.social is a TV vet, so of course doing video for Filmspotting was a breeze for him.

Impressed with Sydney Sweeney in ECHO VALLEY and of course Julianne Moore is sturdy, but hoo-boy that's quite the third-act twist.

And many libraries have massive "collections" via inter-library loan and library streaming services.

My upcoming book on Sufjan Stevens' "Carrie & Lowell" is now available for preorder from my favorite bookstore, Powell's Books in Portland. www.powells.com/book/sufjan-...

For your edification, I'm sharing one of the artifacts we considered in class yesterday (Theological Engagements with the Arts).

Go ahead and watch THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB. I won't roll my eyes at you.

Not for nothing, it might be a good time to take in a refresher on hysterical anti-speech campaigns by listening to season 6 of @rememberthispod.bsky.social as we appear to be barreling toward blacklist/HUAC territory at breakneck speed.

I appear to be higher than most on THE HISTORY OF SOUND. It's a bit stuffy, but full of lovely music and yet another knockout performance by Josh O'Connor.

Filmspotting - now with instructive movie clips! (And our faces.) Check out our stuffed-with-scenes Sacred Cow review of GOODFELLAS: youtu.be/oj1f6ynS7Do?...

First Day of School - Grade 17 (First class: Religious Experience and Aesthetic Theory)

Re-upping this because we still need some help 🙏

My coverage for the Toronto International Film Festival is up! Had a great time at my first TIFF; here’s a snapshot of what I saw.

On @abbyolcese.bsky.social’s recommendation, enjoying a sit in The Meadows of Edinburgh.

We’re back! @odienator.bsky.social and I talked about HIGHEST 2 LOWEST for @ebertvoices.bsky.social!!

Trying not to go all Max Fischer with these student groups, but I just had to join the University of St. Andrews Dog Walking Society. In fact, I'm a Premium Member.

I had justenough fun with THE ROSES, even if Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch bring more class and talent than the movie knows what to do with. larsenonfilm.com/the-roses

This whole festival (celebrating Filmspotting's 20-year anniversary) was a joy to attend, & I loved talking with @larsenonfilm.bsky.social about Satyajit Ray's 1955 masterpiece Pather Panchali, to this day one of the all-time great directorial debuts. Our convo is this week's episode of the show:

One image from our walk along Scotland's Fife Coastal Path yesterday. I've shared more over at www.instagram.com/larsenonfilm/

If you weren't at Filmspotting Fest last March, where the great @thehighsign.bsky.social and I had a post-screening chat about PATHER PANCHALI, you can now listen to it on Ep 1029: www.filmspotting.net/episodes-arc...

A reminder, tossed into the void…

Jacques Tati's Playtime is vast in physical and intellectual scope—an exquisite comedy, a seething satire, a rapturous romance, an antic revolution; it's here today twice, 4:15pm at @bambrooklyn.bsky.social in a DCP; 6:30pm at @paristheaternyc.bsky.social in 70mm.! www.newyorker.com/culture/rich...

How Spike-y is HIGHEST 2 LOWEST? Adam and I discuss on Filmspotting. Then, I dug a bit more deeply into the movie as a parallel narrative to those of Macbeth and the biblical King David at LarsenOnFilm. larsenonfilm.com/highest-2-lo...

I wrote about money, Chicago, labor, the American Dream, and Michael Mann’s THIEF for @bwdr.bsky.social a couple years ago:

The 2011 doc shows that personal intervention reduces crime - not the state-sanctioned, militaristic escalation Trump has threatened. How can you help? Support Chicago CRED, which takes a community-based approach to gun violence: www.chicagocred.org/our-approach/ #DissidentCinema

LURKER is definitely worth catching during its @musicboxtheatre.bsky.social run. As a creepy meditation on celebrity and authenticity, it's like a chaser to Taylor Swift's wedding announcement. larsenonfilm.com/lurker

For those wondering, yes Micah and I have been in cahoots.

The 2011 doc shows that personal intervention reduces crime - not the state-sanctioned, militaristic escalation Trump has threatened. How can you help? Support Chicago CRED, which takes a community-based approach to gun violence: www.chicagocred.org/our-approach/ #DissidentCinema

Off to Scotland! I'm headed to the University of St. Andrews to pursue an MLitt in Theology and the Arts for the next 9 months or so. Got any Scottish books or films to recommend? (This image is from Powell and Pressburger's Hebrides-set I Know Where I'm Going!)

And being a critic means forming a well reasoned argument for both

this September we’re launching a new film zine/journal based around our programming, new releases + more. we’re gathering some of the best film voices online, paying fair rates, and taking submissions starting in October. long live film crit 💜 www.patreon.com/TesseractCin...

Happy new Spike day to all who celebrate (me, as I'm seeing it tonight)

It's tonight, folks!

It doesn't get more moving than @mrmichaelphillips.bsky.social's farewell letter. If you read nothing else today, at least read this.

I didn't want to be the only person on Earth who hadn't seen Ne Zha II.

My author copies of "Sufjan Stevens' Carrie & Lowell" arrived today. Thanks to @3313books.bsky.social and Bloomsbury for publishing my book on this beautiful album.

Today at The Reveal: @scotttobias.bsky.social and I near the halfway point of our trip through Sight & Sound's greatest films of all time with a discussion of BLADE RUNNER that definitely proves whether or not Deckard is a replicant (kidding on that last point):

"Every shot in COLUMBUS exudes an intentionality which is controlled but not controlling, each scene an austere but life-filled canvas."

Every one of these losses sucks, but this one does so personally (Michael is an IRL friend) and historically (I grew up in a Trib household). What is happening?! (Don’t answer, I know what is happening.)

Here's a detailed recap of #CinemaInterruptus - THE PLAYER via @cinemal2001.bsky.social Thanks Al!

We're starting to flex a few more video skills over at Filmspotting...

Still working my way through Chance's STAR LINE, but listening to it in light of our current ICE reality (as well as my recent revisit of DOG DAY AFTERNOON), I remembered this piece I wrote on the 2018 Chance track "I Might Need Security." thinkchristian.net/chance-the-r...

Real talk (reel talk?): BWDR recently lost a partnership that covered nearly half our operating budget, so things are suddenly very tough. If what we do has ever meant something to you, or you’ve ever thought about subscribing, now’s the time—it *truly* makes a difference.

Chicagoans! The New Cult Canon returns to the physical world with this screening of UNDER THE SKIN, which I will introduce. The film is incredible projected. Maybe let’s have a drink beforehand, no?

That's a wrap for #CinemaInterruptus - THE PLAYER. Finished the movie with enough time to share final reflections as the credits rolled. Thanks to the Gene Siskel Film Center for hosting us, to @zacharylee.bsky.social for driving the DVD, and to everyone who played along.

A description of Day Three of this year's #CinemaInterruptus of "The Player" (including some details from a fun conversation with fellow Interrupters afterwards!) can now be found at: cinemal2001.wordpress.com/2025/08/14/c...

Look at producer Sam getting our Filmspotting review of WEAPONS out extra early for Family members! You can join the Filmspotting Family here: filmspotting.supportingcast.fm

We have 90 minutes to make it through 50 minutes of screen time on this last day of #CinemaInterruptus - THE PLAYER. Wish us luck!

The only remotely wise thing I can say is to directly support outlets that are still writing thoughtful, eloquent criticism. Shell out a few $ for a subscription to those who offer it, hit the free sites with your traffic, share good pieces here and elsewhere. It's a tiny thing, but it's something.

Day Three starting shortly. Here’s a recap of Day Two. #CinemaInterruptus